By Gavin Boyle
James Van Der Beek still made an appearance at the DAWSON’S CREEK reunion, even though he couldn’t attend in person due to a stomach virus.
“I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together. I can’t believe I’m not there. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person,” Van Der Beek said in a pre-recorded video. “I just want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight.”
Related: James Van Der Beek Prioritizes Family Time Above Return to Hollywood
“From the cast and the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world,” the actor continued. “Thank you for coming. It’s just absolutely humbling just how much you did for this night, and I just want to say thank you. Thank you to every single person here. And, obviously, on DAWSON’S CREEK, I had no understudy, but this is Broadway, and I needed one. So we figured we’d try to find somebody who had never understudied in this theater before.”
Van Der Beek then announced that Lin Manuel Miranda would take his place, something he was extremely honored by. The actor announced the day before the event that he would not be able to attend the reunion due to two stomach viruses that he is currently battling.
While the actor dropping out of the reunion was disappointing, many fans are likely grateful it wasn’t due to complications related to his colon cancer. Van Der Beek was diagnosed with the disease in 2023 and has learned many lessons as he needs to rely on those around him.
“[I am embracing] the beauty of just taking things a little bit more slowly and prioritizing rest and really allowing that to be the job,” Van Der Beek told Today.com. “I’m just on the journey…It’s a process. It’ll probably be a process for the rest of my life.”
“I’m someone who has always in the past tried to do everything for everybody and never asked for help myself and this has put me in a position of having to ask for help but having to receive help,” he added. “And the beautiful blessing of that has been seeing how many people in my life have shown up.”
Hopefully Van Der Beek will be able to swiftly recover from these illnesses and be back on his feet soon so he can continue to enjoy his life.
Read Next: What James Van Der Beek Learned About ‘Unconditional Love’ Through Cancer Battle
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
– Content: +3Share:
– Content: +1